Reversible drive

Abstract

A reversible drive having a flexible endless belt driven in one direction, a first pair of inside and outside pulleys drivingly engaged by the belt and respectively connected coaxially to an inside drive roller and an outside roller which are engageable alternately with the inside and outside of a first cylinder, and a second pair of inside and outside pulleys drivingly engaged by the belt and respectively connected coaxially to an inside drive roller and an outside drive roller which are engageable alternately with the inside and outside of a second cylinder. The cylinders drive corresponding rotary driven members, such as opposite ground-engaging wheels on a lawn mower.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a reversible drive having a prime mover with a rotary output shaft, the combination of: an endless flexible belt-like drive member driven in one direction by said prime mover;   a rotary cylinder;   an inside drive roller inside said cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   an outside drive roller outside said cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   and a shiftable support carrying said inside and outside drive rollers and selectively operable (a) to position said inside roller in driving engagement with the inside of said cylinder and to position said outside roller out of driving engagement with the outside of said cylinder, or (b) to position said inside roller out of driving engagement with the inside of said cylinder and to position said outside drive roller in driving engagement with the outside of said cylinder.   
     
     
       2. A reversible drive according to claim 1 wherein said belt-like member is a belt of rubber-like material, and further comprising: a pulley drivingly engaged by said belt and coaxially fastened to said inside drive roller so that they rotate in unison;   and a pulley drivingly engaged by said belt and coaxially fastened to said outside drive roller so that they rotate in unison.   
     
     
       3. In a reversible drive for separate first and second rotary driven members, said drive having a prime mover with a rotary output shaft, the combination of: an endless flexible belt-like drive member driven in one direction by said prime mover;   a first rotary cylinder operatively connected to said first rotary driven member to drive said first rotary driven member;   a first inside drive roller inside said first cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   a first outside drive roller outside said first cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   a first shiftable support carrying said first inside and outside drive rollers and selectively operable (a) to position said first inside roller in driving engagement with the inside of said first cylinder and to position said first outside roller out of driving engagement with the outside of said first cylinder, or (b) to position said first inside roller out of driving engagement with the inside of said first cylinder and to position said first outside roller in driving engagement with the outside of said first cylinder;   a second rotary cylinder operatively connected to said second rotary driven member to drive said second rotary driven member;   a second inside drive roller inside said second cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   a second outside drive roller outside said second cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   and a second shiftable support carrying said second inside and outside drive rollers and selectively operable (a) to position said second inside drive roller in driving engagement with the inside of said second cylinder and to position said second outside drive roller out of driving engagement with the outside of said second cylinder, or (b) to position said second inside drive roller out of driving engagement with the inside of said second cylinder and to position said second outside drive roller out of driving engagement with the outside of said second cylinder.   
     
     
       4. A reversible drive according to claim 3 wherein said belt-like member is a belt of rubber-like material, and further comprising a respective pulley operatively connected to each of said drive rollers and drivingly engaged by said belt. 
     
     
       5. In a reversible drive on a lawn mower having a prime mover with a rotary output shaft and laterally spaced first and second ground-engaging wheels, the combination of: an endless flexible belt-like drive member driven in one direction by said prime mover;   a first rotary cylinder operatively connected to said first wheel to drive said first wheel;   a first inside drive roller inside said first cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   a first outside drive roller outside said first cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   a first shiftable support carrying said first inside and outside drive rollers and selectively operable (a) to position said first inside roller in driving engagement with the inside of said first cylinder and to position said first outside roller out of driving engagement with the outside of said first cylinder, or (b) to position said first inside roller out of driving engagement with the inside of said first cylinder and to position said first outside roller in driving engagement with the outside of said first cylinder;   a second rotary cylinder operatively connected to said second wheel to drive said second wheel;   a second inside drive roller inside said second cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   a second outside drive roller outside said second cylinder and operatively connected to be driven by said belt-like drive member;   and a second shiftable support carrying said second inside and outside drive rollers and selectively operable (a) to position said second inside drive roller in driving engagement with the inside of said second cylinder and to position said second outside drive roller out of driving engagement with the outside of said second cylinder, or (b) to position said second inside drive roller out of driving engagement with the inside of said second cylinder and to position said second outside drive roller out of driving engagement with the outside of said second cylinder.   
     
     
       6. A reversible drive according to claim 5 wherein said belt-like member is a belt of rubber-like material, and further comprising a respective pulley operatively connected to each of said drive rollers and drivingly engaged by said belt.